Not every actress can pull off girl next door sexy with such aplomb. But Gong Hyo Jin does it time and time again in real life and on screen. Not only is she talented, but she has such an easy going way about her. Even her outfit above – floral dress paired with the kickass shoes – just radiates her inner beauty mixed with some good ole’ sass. She has always been one of my favorite actresses ever since she played the feisty Mi Rae in Ruler of Your Own World. But she recently upped the ante as the lovable Gu Ae Jung in Greatest Love. I liked her in Pasta but she just hit all the right notes for me and sang her way into my heart as a national treasure. There were quite a few of her projects on my “to watch” list so I’ve been devouring them faster than you can say ‘ding dong’.

Favor: Ruler of Your Own World

This is one of my all time favorites and Gong Hyo Jin is a total scene stealer in it. Her Mi Rae is a total bitch but has so much heart. She loves her man with gusto and fierce loyalty but knows when to let go. She is the definition of a woman who lives life to the full. Gong Hyo Jin plays her with such commitment and perfection.

Fondness: Snowman

The drama also starred Jo Jae Hyun and Oh Yeon Soo but Gong Hyo Jin stood out as the teenager turned policewoman in love with her brother-in-law. She just has this natural knack for pulling the viewer in and leading them down an emotional journey. Even though I didn’t understand her actions, I totally felt her in the drama.

(On a side note, this is the drama where I fell in love with Kim Rae Won‘s hotness. I believe there was some drooling involved…)

Fancy: Greatest Love

The heroine saves the naughty, haughty star. I think the script could have infused more depth into Ae Jung because Gong Hyo Jin could have given us so much more but she took her character and made me love her, admire her, and cry for her.

Fervor: Biscuit Teacher and Star Candy

I’m only halfway through this 2005 drama but Gong Hyo Jin is such a delight. I find the premise to be a bit unbelievable that she’s Gong Yoo‘s teacher but the two of them are oh so deliciously cute together.

Fealty: Crush and Blush

Who knew Gong Hyo Jin could look so ugly? After playing standup characters, she takes on a challenge to portray the fully deplorable Mi Sook. She stalks a married man for years, degrades her coworker, exploits a young girl for her own gain, and all without an ounce of remorse. I LOVE IT! And I’m glad to see that Gong Hyo Jin can go dark and completely nutso. (BTW – Seo Woo totally deserves a mention. She was fabulous as a loser middle school student and I can see why she basically swept the new actress awards for this role.)

Thankfully, I have a whole slew of Gong Hyo Jin projects left to watch: Sang Doo, Thank You, M, Sisters on the Road… I think it’ll keep me busy for the rest of the year.

Now for some eye candy. She says she wants to be known as a pretty face for a change but I crush on her even more because there is a mound full of talent behind this beauty.

The re-teaming of Park Shin Hye and Jung Yong Hwa has been turning away heads in Korea. It’s seen dismal ratings (5-6%) and has netizens writing scathing comments about the drama. One recent review called all the characters an abomination, accused Lee Shin (Jung Yong Hwa) of being a stalker and Kyu Won (Park Shin Hye) a meddlesome ajumma for butting into Shin’s relationship. Way harsh I say! Readers of this blog may remember my You’re Beautiful obsession, so I probably have a soft spot for these 2 actors. But I’ve enjoyed the breezy feel of You’ve Fallen for Me. It’s not reinventing the wheel by any means but what else is new? Every other kdrama has characters falling into stalker-ish behavior and I believe the tenet of kdramaland is being in each other’s business.

I can understand what the netizens are saying. On a micro level, the characters can be annoying. It takes Shin 7 episodes to let go of his teacher crush and Kyu Won does become a bit of a nag. I guess it doesn’t bother me as much because I see the drama as a slice of campus life. Even though it seems like eons ago, I remember my college days and my heightened emotions, especially when I was in love (i.e. had a crush.)

More than a specific storyline or character, I’ve been drawn to the feel of the drama. I’m especially enjoying the colors and the set design. It just seems to fit. Doesn’t the promo remind you of Girls Generation in Gee? (I’ve always been drawn to the SNSD videos more than any of the other idol groups. They’re kitschy but fun.)

I have no idea where they’re filming but I love the sherbert wall colors and the artwork throughout – very appropriate for a performing arts school. Even the Stupid’s practice room is cool without trying too hard.

The campus itself is quite pretty – creating a nice backdrop to the drama. Shin (and now Kyu Won’s) coffee break roof deck is a nice touch. Didn’t we all have our favorite places on campus to people watch?

I’m also loving Shin’s [old] room – such a good job of accessorizing for a guitar playing college kid. I doubly like it that he doesn’t have band posters everywhere. It totally seems Shin-like. Also, I want that turquoise radio.

As a slice of life drama, what draws me in are the small moments. The small moments of joy, angst, soul-bearing, and elation. And at times, the drama captures this moments which I find refreshing. Lee Hyun Jin‘s soul-bearing moment as he sings “If I leave.” Kyu Won’s grandfather enjoying the ugly squash pancake left by his granddaughter. Her friends surrounding her with glee after she sings her heart out at the audition. Yoon Soo pushing Kyu Won how to do a split. These scenes makes me smile and makes me want to watch the next episode.

The drama reminds me a little of Triple (Min Hyo Rin, Lee Jung Jae). I know Triple wasn’t on anyone’s favorite list but I found it to me more enjoyable than most. They both have flaws but something in them just resonates with me. Now, if you really want to watch a fantastic slice of life drama, watch Taereung National Village.

Now for the 2 leads… I get so much of a You’re Beautiful vibe that it’s a little difficult to distinguish the two dramas. (I think it’s the music. Everytime I hear Park Shin Hye singing, I think of YB.) I don’t think Park Shin Hye is the most talented actress but I like her. She has a subtle touch. As for Jung Yong Hwa – he’s pretty stoic, isn’t he? I know it’s his character but he kinda looks the same in every screencap. But I like the two of them together. They have chemistry. (She actually has more chemistry with Song Chang Eui, but that’s because he can make chemistry with anyone.)

In the end, I knew I would keep watching the drama when I was presented with THIS. Seriously, when’s the last time you saw a good gayageum vs guitar battle?

Seriously – how cute are they?? The Smile, You couple, Lee Chun Hee and Jeon Hye Jin, are just adorable together. They got married in March and have a baby coming any minute. You can even see the slight bump in the wedding pic. The couple has a new CF where Lee Chun Hee plans a surprise event for his pregnant wife. (Cute, cute, cute.)

In drama news, Lee Chun Hee will be the lead in a sageuk KBS short at the end of the month. Love me some Lee Chun Hee in a sageuk so I’m looking for to it.

Below the jump are some great pics of the couple – wedding and a photo shoot. And a small clip of the CF.

3 Ha Ji Wons, 2 Lee Da Haes, and a lovely Gong Hyo Jin later… I can’t believe it’s already July. The first half of the year has been a blur. The baby has kept me busy and tired. And it takes me about 5 sittings to finish watching an episode of a drama these days with a now more active baby. I had to stop watching The Duo half way because I couldn’t remember which episode I was watching and kept having to backtrack to figure out the storyline. It will need to be shelved until I can piece together more time.

But I have been able to watch a number of dramas (some halfway) for the better part of the past year and thought I would do a condensed review. What have I learned? Ha Ji Won is a goddess.

49 Days
I tuned in for Bae Soo Bin. The role was pretty anemic but he put on a good scowl for the cameras. I’m not sure why I watched this all the way through. (I actually didn’t watch the last few episodes – just read the recap on dramabeans.) I know that “Kang-ah” became an anthem to many during the series but I just didn’t get the hype. And didn’t anyone else find it weird that he took to the “my girl is living inside another girl’s body” thing too quickly?
Rating: 5

Damo
After wanting to watch this for years, I finally took the plunge right after the baby was born. I’m not sure if I would recommend a new mother to watch this drama. I was already on an emotional roller coaster with the hormones and Damo really threw me over the edge. I’m so thankful that the ending is shown right at the beginning because I don’t know how I would have survived if I was faced with the tragedy at the end.
Rating: 9

Dream High
Who would have thought that a little high school drama would be so addicting? It wasn’t the greatest drama in the world – heck not even that good of a drama – but it had a certain sparkle that kept me coming back for more. I especially enjoyed the old fogeys – JYP, Eom Ki Joon, and Lee Yoon Ji. (Why is Eom Ki Joon so adorable??) My guess is that Dream High 2 will have lost the luster but it was good while it lasted.
Rating: 6.5

The Duo
Now this is a drama I can get behind. As much as I want to finish watching this right now, I need to concentrate to do it justice so I’m shelving the 2nd half until baby tuna starts taking longer naps. I absolutely loved it with the kid actors. And after the initial lull with the introduction of the adults, things started picking up a bit. But you know what I loved the most? The music gets me pumped whenever I hear it.
Rating: TBD

Greatest Love
Oh Gong Hyo Jin – how I love thee. Even with the silly premise and set up, I just found her to be so endearing. I laughed when she laughed, ached when she ached, and cried when she cried. Dokko Jin was almost a secondary character for me – as much as I like Cha Seung Won.
Rating: 7

Mary Stayed Out All Night
What the what?? I watched the whole thing but I can’t even articulate the plot. I must have just stared at Moon Geun Young and Jang Geun Suk. I liked the two of them together. Maybe they’ll make something that makes sense one of these days.
Rating: 4

My Girl
Is it weird that I absolutely hated this? I went into it thinking that it would be a no-brainer. It might not be the best drama out there but it would be entertaining. I mean, it’s a Hong Sister Classic AND what’s not to like about this cast? Lee Da Hae, Lee Dong Wook, Lee Jun Ki, Park Shi Yeon – all respectably talented (especially the supporting cast). But by the end, I kept yelling: YOU’RE NOT RELATED! STOP CALLING HIM ORABEONI!
Rating: 4

Miss Ripley
Another Lee Da Hae drama where I absolutely love the supporting cast: Kim Seung Woo and Kang Hye Jung. I knew that Lee Da Hae had a tendency to overact but her crazy eyes is driving me batty. I was watched the first 10 episodes or so but I was pretty annoyed with the storyline and decided to give it a rest. Mostly, I’m sad that Kang Hye Jung has so little screen time.
Rating: TBD

My Girlfriend is a Gumiho
I watched this when it came out a year ago but I wanted to include it on the list since I never blogged about it. Lee Seung Gi was cute and passable but I fell in love with Shin Mina. I absolutely adored her feminine and aggressive turn as Miho. The drama itself wasn’t anything to write home about but Shin Mina just elevated the whole experience for me.
Rating: 7

My Princess
I never in a million years thought I would finish watching a Song Seung Hun/Kim Tae Hee drama. I find him to be an ass and her, flighty. (Mind you, these are gross caricatures. I have no idea what they are like in real life. Kim Tae Hee’s actually supposed to be very smart.) But maybe the drama sorta worked because he kinda played an ass and she kinda played flighty. The more significant thing about the drama is that I went into labor while watching this. Either the baby was genuinely moved or wanted me to stop watching.
Rating: 5.5

Playful Kiss
I’m not a big fan of Kim Hyun Joong. (Please don’t shoot me.) But I was all about watching cute things while I was pregnant so his pretty face made the list. And I was pleasantly surprised, not with Kim Hyun Joong but with Jung So Min. Don’t get me wrong, I truly dislike this kind of dramas. I don’t understand why any girl would fall deeply in love with a boy who is truly an ass over and over again. I should have really despised Hani but I rooted for her to get the boy. And full credit goes to Jung So Min for making her Hani so likeable.
Rating: 6

President
This is another drama that I’ve tabled until I have a bit more time to sit still. It is really well written and directed. The storyline has me completely engrossed and the power couple of Choi Soo Jong and Ha Hee Ra has me eating out of their hands.
Rating: TBD

Secret Garden
Lots of Ha Ji Won this past year of my life. (Always a good thing.) This is definitely the weakest out of the 3 HJW dramas I watched. It started off cute but there was so much I didn’t like about the drama – weak storyline and poor execution to boot. If not for HJW and Binnie, this would have been a dud for me.
Rating: 6

What Happened in Bali
You know what’s funny? I have this vague memory of watching this drama when it first came out. The only actor I knew back then was Jo In Sung from watching Shoot for the Stars with Jeon Do Yeon. After watching it this time around (thinking that I had never watched it before), it amazes me that I don’t remember more about this drama from my initial (ignorant) watch. I mean, think about that ENDING!! I’ve convinced myself that I must not have seen that ending on my first watch because how could I have forgotten about that?
Rating: 8

White Tower
Kim Myung Min is truly a special actor. It was very refreshing to watch a non-romance driven drama for once AND have a main character be a full on egomaniac. It’s a rarity in kdramaland. Lee Seon Kyun was great in it as well but it was truly a one man show. Bravo.
Rating: 8

The Duo finally had the adults debut a few weeks ago which helped the ratings front runner to firmly establish its hold. I, of course, initially tuned in to watch Chun Jung Myung and was quickly sucked into the drama with its good story, acting, dialogue, and pacing. The initial disappointed of not seeing Chun Jung Myung early on died down quickly as the kids did a pretty fabulous job of showing layers to each character.

And then the “10 Years Later” sign finally flashed and the stars showed up on screen. ‘Finally’ I thought to myself. As much as I had been enjoying the kids story, I was ready for some adult action. Unfortunately, the crop of adult actors are doing no justice to the still great drama. Han Ji Hye is a total bore – it’s like she’s playing a different character than Jin Se Yun (child counterpart) as the compassionate and arrogant Dong Nyeo. Sadly, Chun Jung Myung first foray into a sageuk hasn’t been a good one [yet]. He seems confused and befuddled as Chun Doong, the lovable slave turned shoemaker turned merchant, after he was fabulously played by the child actor No Young Hak. Also, am I the only one who’s bothered by the oddly teased hair?? Lee Sang Yoon is quite one note as the fake son of nobility, Gwi Dong. Seo Hyun Jin is probably the best as the feisty shoemaker, Dal Yi. Besides all having their own issues, whether its robot-like delivery, ineptitude at sageuk talk, or downright bad acting, it’s the chemistry between the leads which has dropped off the planet.

Thankfully, the story is as juicy as ever with the slow unveiling of the birth secret and the rise of the peasants. Kim Woon Kyung, who also penned the brilliant My Sister’s March (a short drama from last year), has done a fine job of developing characters with depth and an intriguing plot. The direction has been pretty good so far as well. And I’m a total sucker for period piece cinematography.

The “stars” of the drama has been the 4 kid actors leading the charge for the first 8 episodes. Mostly newbies on the scene (except No Young Hak who’s had more sageuk experience than the adult stars), their efforts did not go unnoticed. Sites and blogs in Korea have lit up with searches for the child actors and one blog even did had readers poll their favorite aspects of the characters, with Chan Doong coming up on top.

All in all, The Duo should not be missed. And at WITH S2, you can do good and watch a great drama with the Exclusive Sageuk Package through the charity drive. Go check it out here.

Via Asiae